I love the Black Keys, but I fully did not expect to go to this show. Knowing that it was at the Coliseum, I figured it wouldn’t be as intimate a show as it may have been at the National. However, when I was gifted tickets, there was no deterring me from going, regardless of the fact that I would be sitting in the farthest possible section from the stage.
I love the Black Keys, but I fully did not expect to go to this show. Knowing that it was at the Coliseum, I figured it wouldn’t be as intimate a show as it may have been at the National. However, when I was gifted tickets, there was no deterring me from going, regardless of the fact that I would be sitting in the farthest possible section from the stage.
Although I had to miss St. Vincent (sadface; I love Annie), I got up to the very top floor of the Coliseum in time for the very first song by the Black Keys. It actually is a really interesting experience to be that far removed from the show and yet still be a part of it. It was like watching people watch a concert, really.
But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’re not a crowd kind of person, it’s nice to be away from the sweaty, cramped section of the floor where the general admission ticket people were standing… and to be able to have a seat, instead of being shoved around by complete strangers.
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely enjoyable advantages of being in a crowd of people that share your love of a specific band. But it was nice to be able to be somewhat more relaxed, and honestly I’m sure I could see better than most people behind around the fifth row of the standing section.
Okay yes… it was still pretty hard to see that far away from the stage. It was kind of like watching a Black Keys concert on TV. But their sound was not lacking in the slightest. The vocals were absolutely clear; I always admire artists who sound generally the same as they sound on their records; this is where real talent shines through. And the Black Keys are AMAZINGLY talented.
They actually didn’t play many songs from Turn Blue, either; they steered away from the new pop music that came with the new album and played a lot from their albums El Camino and Brothers, which really thrilled the crowd.
Something interesting to keep in mind while watching them was that all that sound is made solely by the two members of the band during recording sessions. The two extra musicians that they had touring with them were very talented too, though. There were no continuity errors carried from the album to the live show, and they were even given some artistic liberty with how they played their parts in the songs.
It kept the show interesting, and didn’t sound like a rote performance of the music from the albums. It seemed like, overall, the band genuinely enjoyed what they were doing, which was pleasant to see considering how long they’ve been in the music scene.
Their stage presence was also amazing. With the use of screens featuring visual effects, the crowd could see each musician from almost every angle. They dropped a curtain near the beginning of the show to reveal more lights behind it, which had an almost stage-melting effect.
There was no lack of crowd-pleasing light effects, either; after the band’s initial end to the show, the crowd was absolutely begging for the encore.
All in all, seeing the Black Keys even in this distant setting was worth it. Although it would have been better to see them in a more personal show, it would have made getting tickets almost impossible.
If the Keys are ever in Richmond again, be sure to snag tickets, because their shows always promise to be something almost legendary.
